Polite behaviour and decorum are key elements of business success.

This article stresses on the fact that: working professionally, maintaining proper manners, in other words, engaging with co-workers and clients in a spirit of cooperation and respect is more vital to business growth than some of the “big” measures people take to grow their business. The reason is because business is always between two or more parties; business involves human beings who will always detest emotional abuse; whose choices can be influenced by emotional trauma.

To succeed in business, it is absolutely important to bother about how your employees relate with your clients and other key business partners.

In other words, to survive in the business world, you must be cautious about business etiquette. No one likes to work with or be associated with unpleasant people. Once your company has been known for having unfriendly employees, it diminishes your brand as people will prefer elsewhere just to avoid being insulted; that is how the human ego was wired to react.

Business etiquette is significant from the point of view of building rapport and a solid foundation within and outside the business community.

Too often than not, business service providers and company representatives while relating with customers and clients underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, all of which have the potential to turn their business around.

I have seen people who would prefer to endure hunger and walk miles just to save their patronage for a particular restaurant down the next street, not because their food is the sweetest, but because of the manner they were attended to by one waiter they can’t even remember, who was on duty the first day they ate in that restaurant.

Take note, that: words are free, but they may cost you, if you don't know how to use them.

Similarly, if there’s any habit an employee should be trained to imbibe, it should be the habit of sounding nice and kind to clients or customers no matter their state of mind. The reason is because, the tongue may not have bones but, it is strong enough to break relationships, business commitments, partnership and bridge of contracts.

On a more serious note, it is good for employees in a business organization to always sound kind no matter what, because one kind word from one staff can influence someone’s entire perception of the organization. It also has a way of influencing the perception of his networks, as he may carry the testimony around.

Some Peculiarities of Kind Manners

"A kind word means the world to especially someone going through a rough time"

"Kind words may be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless" ------ Mother Theresa------

"You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wound will still be there" ------ Joel Osteen-------

Perhaps as a staff member, working with the customer service unit of a firm, you may forget tomorrow the kind manners you use today to relate with the customers, but the customers may cherish them over a lifetime. Those few words could be the reason they will continue their patronage. Noteworthy, the “vice versa" applies when you exhibit bad manners

Therefore, as a business service provider, don't mix bad manners with bad mood. You may have many opportunities to change a mood, but you'll never get an opportunity to replace spoken words"

This article enjoins Human Resource managers of companies to always organize series of trainings for staff members as this will not just boost their efficiency; but will also lead to the general transformation of the entire company; because the people form the company. Without the people, the company cannot run.

At Gabriel Domale (Management Consulting) we undertake several kinds of trainings for companies including: Skills Training, Behavioural training, Coaching and mentoring on new systems. Engage us to train your staff members on business etiquette.

▌ We help companies in #Africa to grow by providing expert consultancy in:

âž½ Strategy.

âž½ Finance.

âž½ Corporate Governance.

âž½ Value-for-Money Audit.

âž½ Financial Due Diligence.

âž½ Training & Coaching.

âž½ Search for Non-Executive Directors.

Check out our services in this LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gabriel-domale

Article Contributed by:

ERIC BEEKA Y.

(Associate Consultant)

Gabriel Domale (Management Consulting)

Port Harcourt | Nigeria